Thiem Solid On Serve In Klizan Win

Dominic Thiem needed 84 minutes to confirm his spot in the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters third round on Wednesday, beating Martin Klizan 6-1, 6-4.

Despite entering the match with just one win from four FedEx ATP Head2Head encounters against Klizan, Thiem won 20 of 23 first-serve points and did not face a break point en route to his fourth straight appearance in the third round.

The 25-year-old arrives in Monte-Carlo in form after capturing his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title at the BNP Paribas Open last month (d. Federer). That milestone victory came in the early stages of his new coaching partnership with former World No. 9 Nicolas Massu.

Thiem began working with the Chilean during the ‘Golden Swing’ in February and the relationship could prove to be even more effective on the red dirt. During his career, Massu lifted five of his six tour-level titles on the surface.

Aiming to reach back-to-back quarter-finals in the Principality, Thiem will meet Dusan Lajovic in the third round. Last year, the Austrian defeated Novak Djokovic in three sets to reach his maiden quarter-final at the Monte-Carlo Country Club, before falling to eventual champion Rafael Nadal.

Lajovic overcame 2017 semi-finalist David Goffin 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 28 minutes. The World No. 48 converted four of eight break points to book a sixth FedEx ATP Head2Head clash against Thiem. The World No. 4 owns an unbeaten 5-0 record against Lajovic, with each of those meetings coming on clay.